Isaac ii



Patenfed` Julyv 21 (No Model.)

I. H. ATHEY. PIRE ESCAPE.

me noms rnsns'ca., mow-urna, wAsmNm-ou, r:4 c.

UNITED STATES JATENT EEicE.

ISAAC I-I. ATHEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '.lO THE TRAVELLERSPOCKET FIRE ESCAPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,282, dated July 21,1891.

Application filed December 16, 1890. Serial No. 374,894. (No model.)

T0 all whom L' may concern.'

Be it known that I, ISAAC I-I. ATHEY, residing` at Chicago, in the Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Escapes, of which the following is hereby declared to be a full,clear, and exact description sufficient to enable others skilled in theart to which such invention appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has relation to that class of portable fre-escapeswherein the sustaining tape; cord, orwire is carried by a reel journaledwithin a suitable supporting-frame that is furnished with means wherebythe user of the lire-escape can control the revolution of the reel andthe consequent speed at which his descent shall be made. An example ofthis type of fire-escapes is illustrated in Letters Patent No. 402,053,granted to me April 23, 1889.

The object of my present invention is to provide improved means forcontrolling the inovements of the reel, whereby the paying out of thetape, and consequently the speed of the descent of the user ot' theescape, can be determined with uniformity and ease, and whereby thepossibility of a too-rapid descent shall be automatically guardedagainst.

A further object of my invention is to iinprove in various particularsthe details of construction of the lire-escape, and thereby produce anescape that shall be more simple, durable, and effective in constructionthan any with which I am familiar. l

With these severalobjects in view my invention consists in the variousnovel features ofconstruction hereinafter described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at theend of this specification. Y

Figure lisa perspective view of a tire-escape embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a viewin vertical transverse sectionthrough the reel andsustaining-frame illustrated in Fig. l, the wire tape being omitted fromthe reel. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the sustaining-frame.Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the screw whereby the end "of thetape will be attached to the building'. Fig. 51s a detail end view ofthe hollow screw or axle for the reel. Fig. G is a detail perspectiveview showing a modified form of supporting-frame. Fig. 7 isa perspectiveview of a further modified form of supporting-frame. Fig. 8 isa detailperspective View of the lower portion of one of the suspension links.Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the screw-axle. Fig. lO is adetail sideview of the'thimble for the axle.

A designates the reel whereon is wound the suspension-tape B. Bypreference I employ a dat tape formed of aluminium or of tough steel, asI have found that from either of these metals a small and light tape ofgreat tensilevstrength can vbe formed. will be ot' any desired length,and at one end it is securely attached to the central portion of thereel A, while the opposite end is furnished with a ring b, whereby thetape can be conveniently attached to the attachmentscrewC when thisscrew has been securely embedded in the window-casing or otherconvenient point from which the descent is t0 be made.

The reel A is sustained between the side plates D vand D of thesupporting-frame, these side plates beingpreferably formed fromsheet-steel and being Aby preference connected together at theirbot-toms by the integral tie-plate D2. The side plates D and D ot' thesustaining-frame are preferably of a size corresponding with the endplates c and a of the reel, so as to more effectively exert a pressurethroughout'the entire surface of the end plates. side plates D and D areunited, is sufficiently elastic to permit these plates to be readilyforced inward under the action of the pressu re mechanism whereby therevolution of the reel is controlled, as will presently more fullyappear. Between these side plates of the su pporting-frarne the reel Ais sustained, being journaled upon an axle 'or screw E, that passesthrough the reel and through the side plates D D of thesupporting-frame, andas The tape The tie-plate D2, by which the wellalso through the pressure plates or caps F and F, that bear upon theouter facesof the side plates l) and D. By preference I interposebetween the side plates D and D of the supporting-frame and the endplates a and a of the reel the friction-pads G, of

IOO

leather or other' suitable material, these pads being preferablyconnected to the .side plates D and D by cement or light rivets.

lVhile I regard the employment otl the pads G G as highly desirablebecause ofthe better frictional bearing afforded thereby, still I do notWish my invention to be understood as necessarily restricted thereto,since the side plates D D of the supporting-frame might bear directlyupon the end plates a a of the reel, although I do not deem suchconstruction as desirable.

In the preferred form of my invention the pressure-plates F and F areconcaved or (lished, as shown, the purpose of this construction being tocause these plates to exert a more effective pressure toward the outerportion of the side plates D D' of the supporting-frame and at the sametime to give an elasticity to such plates which will tend toward a moreuniform and effective action of the reel when pressure has been appliedto control the paying out of the tape as the user of the escape makeshis descent. By preference, also, and for like reason the side plates DD of the supporting-frame are concaved or dished about their centralportions, as more particularly seen in Fig. 2 ot' the drawings.

The axle E in the preferred form of myinvention is a hollow screwprovided at one end with a iian ged head e, that bears against thepressure plate or cap F, and provided at its opposite ends withscrew-threads e', whereon will work the hand-nut Il. 'Ihe head end ofthe axle E is furnished with one or more ribs or splines e2, that entercorresponding notches j' and d2, formed, respectively, in the cap F andthe side plate D of the supporting-frame about their centralperforations, the purpose of these splines and notches being to guardthe axle against rotation, as will presently more fully appear. Throughthe central opening of the axle E extends a coiled spring K, oneterminal oi which is attached to a cross-bar k, that rests upon the heade of the axle, while the opposite terminal of this spring is attached toa cross-bar k', that rests upon the hand-nut I-I or the opposite end ofthe axle. By preference the cross-bar 7s is furnished with bent ends7a2, that enter perforations 7L, formed in the nut H, the purpose ofwhich arrangement will hereinafter more fully appear. In order toprotect the threaded portion of the axle E from wear and insure a moreeasy and accurate working of the parts, I prefer to place upon this axlea.

thimble M, having a iianged end fm., this thimblc being located betweenthe threaded portion of the axle E, the pressure-plate F', the Sideplate D of the supporting-frame, the friction-pad G', and the end platea of the reel. In order to allow for the inward movement ot' thisthimble, the bore of the reel is countcrsunk or enlarged, as at a2, asmore particularly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the tie-plate D2, thatconnects the side plates D D of the supporting-frame, is furnished withupturned portions d3, that constitute eyes or seats to receive andretain the suspension-links O and O. In order to brace the links O andO, each of them is formed with an inwardly-extending lug o, adapted tobear against the bottom ot' the opposite link. By this means, when thelinks O and O are together, as seen in Fig. l, and the hook P of thebody-strap R has been engaged therewith, the lugs o upon the links willcause an interlocking of these links, and consequently will cause theweight of the user of the escape to be better sustained thereby--that isto say, when strain is thrown upon the hook P in straight downwarddirection such strain will be borne equally by the links 0 O,.and ifstrain be toward one or the other of the links it is obvious that,inasmuch as the lug of each link passes beneath the end of the oppositelink, the slipping of the ends ot` the links past cach other is guardedagainst, and consequently the strain upon either link is braced by theresistance of the opposite link.

The operation of the construction hereinbefore described will be seen tobe as tollows: If it is desired to employ the escape in making adescent, for example, from thewindow of a burning building, the user ot'the escape will first pass the ring b of the tape over one of the hookedends o of the attachment-screw C, and when so connected the rin g willbe guarded against slipping therefrom by means of a spring C', each endof which serves to guard one of the hooks c of the screw. The body-strapR will then be fastened about the body of the user beneath the arms, andthe descent will be begun. It will be found that the coiled spring K, byreason of the pressure which it normally exerts upon the hand-nut H,will turn and force this nut against the flanged end ot the thimble M,and consequently will cause the cap-platesF F to bear upon the sideplates D D of the supportingframe and to force these tie plates and thefriction-pads G G against the ends a a' of the reel with a pressurecorresponding to the force of the coiled spring K. Hence it is manifestthat even if the user rot' the escape should neglect to turn thehand-screw II the coilspring K, by reason of its pressure uponthe parts,as above indicated, will prevent such an extremely rapid movement ot`the reel A as would be disastrous. Moreover, the force of the coiledspring thus tending to turn the hand-nut II in forward direction willguard against the user mistaking the proper direction for the turning ofthe nut to check 'the 'movement of the reel, since any backward turningof the nut tending to loosen the reel would be at once indicated by theresistance of the spring. It will be observed that the coiled spring K,by reason of its connection to the end e of the axle E through theinedium ot' the rod 7c, can have its force or ten- IOO IIO

sion adjstedby merely turning this rod about the notched or toothed facee3 of the -head e of the axle, and in this way the tenessary to turn thecross-bar k one or two additional revolutions, thereby winding thecoiled spring and increasing its tension upon the hand-nut H, and by somuch increasing the pressure exerted by this nut upon thepressure-plates F F to check the movements of the reel A. If the user ofthe escape desires to effect a more rapid ascent than is permitted bythe hand-nut H when controlled by the spring K, it is only necessary forhim to turn backward the hand-nut against the force of this spring; or,it' he desires to eectamore gradual descent, it is obvious that he canby turning forward the hand-nut H increase the pressure upon thepressure-plates F and F and upon the reel until the movement of the reelis more or less checked'or completely arrested, if desired.

My purpose in mounting` the cross-bar k upon the hand-nut H in themanner shown is to permit this nut to be forced inwardly after thecross-bar 7c has come to rest upon the end of the axle E, and yetmaintain the tension of the spring, and it is plain that when thehand-nut H is turned to effect an increased checking or arresting of themovement of the reel A, so that this nut passes belowthe end of the axleE, the cross-bar la will rest upon the end of the axle; but the bentends of the crossbar will still be retained within the perforations ofthe hand-hut, and consequently the tension of the coiled spring K willalways be maintained. This feature of employing a spring for the purposeof moderating the movements of the reellregardas of very greatimportance, and, while I have shown WhatI regard as the best form ot'spring for such purpose, I do not wish my invention to be restrictedthereto, since it is manifest that various other forms of springs mightbe employed without departing from the broad spirit of my invention. g

As the hand-nut H is turned to produce a pressure upon the plates F andF', and through these plates and intermediate parts upon the end platesof the reel A, it will be seen that the initial pressure of the plates Fand D Will be exerted through their outer portions on account of theconcaved or dished shape of the plates, and as this pressure isdelivered at the greatest point from the center of revolution of thereel it will obviously be much more effective than if delivered at apoint nearer the center of revolution.

If the plates F F werevsimple flat plates andthe side plates D and D ofthe supportingframe were not concaved, shown, then the pressure exertedby the'screw-a'xle E would be greater adjacent the point of applicationthan ata greater distance therefrom unless these plates were madeot suchincreased size and weight as to render the apparatus very cumbersome andbulky. Moreover, by forming the pressure-plates F and F concaved ordished, as shown, a more gradual and elastic action of these plates issecured, the pressure being applied, as above stated, first adjacent theouter ends of the plates, and then as the plates are compressed upon theconcaved portion of the side plates D and D until a gradual checking orarrest of the movements of the reel A is effected. It will be observedthat as the hand-nut H is turned to eect the arrest or checking of thereel A the force ot' this spring will be exerted upon the flanged end ofthe thimble M, and the thimble will thus be forced inward along theexpanded bore of the axle E. This thimble M not only serves to protectthe threads of the axle against wear, which would occur if the sideplate D' of the supporting-frame and the pressureplate F were allowed tobear directly thereon, but by reason of the bearing of the hand-nut Hupon the head `of the thimble an easier action of the hand-nut isallowed. Any simple form of instrument--such, for example, as a pair ofnippers or a small pronged wrench or key-may be used for shifting thecross-bar 7c to adjust the tension of the coiled spring K.

The attachment-screw C has its threaded shank c4 furnished with agimlet-point, so that the shank can be readily inserted into thewindow-casing or other convenient part ot' the wood-work ot' thebuilding, and the hooked ends c of this shank not only afford a readymeans whereby the shank may be firmly screwed to place, but when theflat IOO edges of .these ends are brought to bear upon the wood-workthey serve as fulcra to sustain the weight ot' the user of the escape asthe descent is being made, and thus in great measure relieve thetendency to withdraw the screw-shank from the wood. The elnployment ofthe spring C for retaining the attachment ring or loop of the tapeagainst displacement is also a desirable feature; but the precise shapeof this spring may be varied without departing from the invention.

The use of an attachment-screw such as that illustrated is particularlyadvantageous in that it enables the free 'end of the tape B to beattached at such distance above the bottom of the window that the sharpbend of the tape over the window-sill is avoided, and, moreover, theuser of the escape'is allowed to place his weight upon the tape from theoutset and without the necessity of first paying IIO The details ofconstruction above set out may be varied within widelimits withoutdeparting from the scope ot my invention. Thus, for example, in Fig. Got' the drawings I have illustrated a modiiiedform ot the supporting-frame. In this construction the side plates D D' of thesupporting-frame are furnished with downwardly-dependin g plates d",perforated, as' at df', to receive the catch or snap-hook P of thebody-strap or to receive suitable intermediate links, if desired. Thesedownwardly-extending portions di may be formed integral with each otherand with the side plates, if desired,

In Fig. a further modified forni of supporting-frame is illustrated. Inthis construction the side plates D D ot the` frame are connectedtogether by a tie-plate D2, formed integral with such side plates andconstituting a seat adapted to receive the crossbar s of a link S, towhich the snap-l1ool P of the body-strap may be conveniently attached.\\'hen this form of supporting-frame is employed, I prefer to provide atthe top of the irame a swinging guide-bar T, against which the tape Bwill bear a's it is being paid out, the eitect of this guide-bar beingto give a steadier movement to the tape during the descent of the userof the escape than would be possible if the tape passed from the reel ina line corresponding with the line ot' the strain exerted upon thebody-strap.

Other changes in the details ol' construction will readily occur tothose skilled in this class of devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fire-escape comprising` a suplvuortingframe, a reel containedbetween the side plates of said frame, coneaved or dished pressureplatesupon the outside of said frame, and suitable means for exerting pressureupon said plates and through them to the sides ot` the frame and endsot` the reel, substantially as described.

2. A iireescape comprising a supportingtrame having coneaved or dishedend plates, a reel sustained between the side plates ol' said frame,concaved or dished pressureplates upon the outside of said frame, andsuitable means for exerting pressure upon said plates and through themto the sides ot' the frame and ends of the reel, substantially asdescribed.

2l. A lire-escape comprising a supportingf rame, a reel carried by saidframe, a threaded axle extending through said reel and frame, suitablepressure mechanism, and a movable thimble for protecting the threadedportion of said axle, substantially as described.

l. A tire-escape comprising a supportingframe, a reel carried by saidframe, a threaded axle or screw, a threaded adjusting hand-nut, and aspring for holding said nut in working position to exert a nominalpressure upon the reel-heads, substantially as described.

5. A tire-escape comprising a supportingframe, a reel carried by saidframe, a hollow threaded axle or screw, a threaded adj usting n ut, andaspring passing through said hollow axle ior holding said nut in workingposition, substantially as described.

(5. A lire-escape comprising a supportingl frame, a reel carried betweenthe side plates of said frame, pressure-plates upon the outside of saidframe, a hollow screw passing through said reel, said frame, and saidpressure-plates, a threaded adjusting-nut for said screw, and a coiledspring passing through said hollow screw and attached to said nut,substantially1 as described.

7. A tire-escape comprising a supportingtrame, a reel carried by said t'rame, a threaded hollow axle or screw, a threaded adj Listingnut, and aspring passing through said hollow axle or screw and adjustablyconnected thereto and connected also to the said nut` substantially asdescribed.

8. A fire-escape comprising a reel and a su pporting-frame i'or saidreel, said frame having a cross-plate at its bottom formed in piecetherewith and provided with eyes 'for loops, said eyes extending in thedirection of the length of the reel, and suitable loops within saideyes, substantially as described.

0. In a lire-escapc of the kind iilescribed, the combination, with thesupportiIig-frame and the body-strap, ot' connecting-loops provided attheir bottom wit-h interlocking lugs, substantially as described.

ISAAC It. A'IHEY. \Vitnesses:

Giro. P. FISHER, Jr., T. B. CARPENTER.

